Blood Sugar Homeostasis quiz Flashcards

Blood sugar homeostasis is the process of maintaining stable blood glucose levels in the body.

Diabetes mellitus disrupts blood sugar homeostasis and affects nearly 10% of the American population.

The two main hormones involved in blood sugar homeostasis are insulin and glucagon.

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas fails to produce sufficient quantities of insulin, often due to an autoimmune reaction.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the body's cells failing to properly respond to insulin, known as insulin insensitivity.

When blood sugar levels are high, insulin causes muscles and the liver to take up excess glucose and store it as glycogen.

Glycogenesis is the creation of glycogen from glucose, which occurs in response to insulin.

When blood sugar levels are low, the pancreas releases glucagon, which tells the liver to break down glycogen into glucose.

Gluconeogenesis is the construction of glucose from non-carbohydrate carbon sources, such as amino acids, in response to glucagon.

The liver acts as a long-term store for glycogen, whereas muscles use their glycogen stores quickly for energy.

If blood sugar levels get too high, it can lead to glycation, where sugars chemically attach to body tissues, causing long-term health issues.

Low blood sugar can be more dangerous in the short term because it can lead to death if levels drop too low.

Insulin helps lower blood sugar levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into tissues and its storage as glycogen.

Glucagon raises blood sugar levels by promoting the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver.

The balancing act involves insulin lowering blood sugar by promoting glucose uptake and storage, while glucagon raises blood sugar by promoting glycogen breakdown and gluconeogenesis.